Ergonomics, Students’ Well-being, and Technology-Enhanced Learning at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities. In the context of students in the 21st century, ergonomics is important because of the increasing amount of time that students spend using technology, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. Poor ergonomics can lead to physical discomfort, pain, and even long-term injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back problems. This article assessed the relationship between students, some ergonomic factors they may come into contact with during their stay at the university, and how the relationship can be improved. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. All the undergraduate students from the faculty of sciences formed the population of the study. 357 students were randomly selected to participate in the study. The determination of the sample size was guided by Research Advisors (2006). An instrument titled “Ergonomics and Students’ Health” was developed and used for data collection. It was validated, and it was used to conduct a pilot study. A reliability index of 0.98 was obtained using Chrombach Alpha at the 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results from the study found that most of the students do not see ergonomics as a factor of concern. A negative relationship was also found between ergonomics and students’ health conditions at the university. It was concluded that ergonomics is a silent issue with numerous negative health effects that needs urgent responses from both students and university management. It was therefore recommended that the university management take the necessary measures to improve the ergonomic conditions of its students.